Four of 10 Pakistani crew members from the hijacked MT Honour 25 have been retrieved, while three others remain aboard the vessel.
WEB DESK: Four of the 10 Pakistani crew members caught up in the hijacking of the MT Honour 25 off Somalia have been safely retrieved and are scheduled to arrive in Karachi on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.
The four crew members were identified as Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani. Dar said their retrieval followed sustained efforts by Pakistan’s Foreign Office and its embassy in Djibouti.
Four Pakistani Crew Members to Return
Dar said the necessary legal and administrative formalities were being expedited to facilitate the crew members’ return to Pakistan.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan has maintained contact with Somali authorities and other stakeholders since the tanker was hijacked in April. The Pakistani embassy in Djibouti, which is accredited to Somalia, has been involved in efforts to secure the safe return of the nationals.
The four rescued Pakistanis are expected to reach Karachi on October 3.
Three Pakistanis Killed
Dar also confirmed that the mortal remains of three Pakistani crew members killed during the incident are being repatriated to Pakistan.
They were identified as Rafi Ullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.
The foreign minister expressed condolences to the families of those who died and said all necessary formalities were being accelerated to bring the remains back to the country.
Somali authorities previously reported that five crew members were killed during the operation to recover the tanker from pirates. The victims included three Pakistanis, one Indian national and one Myanmar national.
Three Pakistani Crew Members Remain Aboard
Dar said Imran Ali, Yasin Muhammad and Syed Yousuf Hussain remain aboard the tanker along with its captain.
Pakistan is coordinating with friendly countries and other relevant authorities to facilitate their safe extraction and eventual return, he said.
The Foreign Office said on October 1 that surviving crew members had initially been brought ashore at Bandar Beyla and later taken to Garowe, where injured crew members received medical treatment.
MT Honour 25 Hijacked Off Somalia
The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged petroleum tanker, was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Puntland on April 21, 2026.
The vessel had 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistani nationals, according to earlier Pakistani and international reports. Puntland security forces subsequently recovered the tanker during an operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Bandar Beyla district.
Puntland authorities said their forces also captured 16 suspected pirates during the operation.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Efforts
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had been pursuing diplomatic and humanitarian channels to secure the release of the Pakistani sailors.
In June, the Foreign Office said Pakistan was maintaining contact with Somali authorities, the shipowner and other stakeholders while seeking the safe release and repatriation of the hostages.
The government later continued diplomatic engagement through its embassy in Djibouti and discussions with Somali officials and other international stakeholders.
The latest development means four Pakistani crew members are set to return home, while efforts continue to secure the remaining three and repatriate the remains of those who died.
